Ithaca, New York — USA
Cornell University
Meets 100% of demonstrated need for admitted internationals with no merit or athletic scholarships — low-income students can get a full ride. But admissions is strictly need-aware, you must apply for aid the same year you apply for admission, and Cornell now requires the SAT or ACT.
Last updated July 2026. Always confirm details on the school's official page before applying.
Cornell University offers no merit or athletic scholarships — every dollar of aid is need-based — but its need-based program is genuinely generous: Cornell meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted undergraduates. For low-income international students, that can mean a full ride built from Cornell grants, a work-study allocation, and emergency funding. Two things make Cornell demanding for internationals. First, admissions is strictly need-aware for international freshmen: the committee sees how much aid you request, and asking for a large package makes an already brutal admit rate even more competitive. Second, aid is a one-shot deal — you must apply for financial aid at the same time you apply for admission, because internationals who don't request aid up front cannot apply for it in later years. And unlike most schools in this directory, Cornell has reinstituted standardized testing: every first-year applicant must submit an SAT or ACT score.
At a glance
- SAT Required
- Yes — REQUIRED. Cornell has reinstituted standardized testing, and every first-year applicant must submit an SAT or ACT score. (Transfer applicants do not need SAT/ACT.)
- English Proficiency Required
- Yes, for non-native English speakers — TOEFL iBT 100 minimum, IELTS Academic 7.5 minimum, or Duolingo 130 minimum. Automatically waived if you score 670+ on SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing, 30+ on ACT English, or attended an English-medium high school for 4+ consecutive years.
- Apply With CSS Profile
- Yes — the CSS Profile is required (school code 2098), with supporting documents submitted via IDOC.
- CSS Fee Waiver
- No — no CSS fee waiver codes for international students.
- CSS Waiver Type
- Cornell issues no CSS fee waiver codes for internationals and offers no free ISFAA or paper alternative. The only exception: if you live somewhere the College Board can't process online payments, email intl-finaid@cornell.edu to arrange a manual workaround.
- Acceptance Rate (Freshman)
- ~7.0–7.5% (lower for internationals requesting near-full aid)
- Application Fee (Freshman)
- $85 — a standard financial-hardship waiver is available through the Common App or Coalition App.
- Transfer Students
- Accepted and funded — Cornell meets 100% of demonstrated need for admitted international transfers, but (like freshmen) admissions is heavily need-aware and transfer funding is highly restricted. SAT/ACT is not required or expected for transfers.
- Acceptance Rate (Transfer)
- ~12–14%
- Application Fee (Transfer)
- $85
What “full scholarship” means here
This school guarantees it will meet 100% of your demonstrated financial need. In simple English: if you get accepted and you've applied for financial aid and you don't have any money to attend, they can give you a full scholarship to cover your cost of attendance. Both conditions matter — and the CSS Profile is how you prove your need.
Cornell Need-Based Financial Aid (100% demonstrated need)
Need-based · Bachelor's
What it covers
- Up to 100% of your demonstrated financial need
- Full rides for low-income internationals — Cornell grants plus a work-study allocation and emergency funding
- No merit or athletic scholarships — every dollar of aid is need-based
Who qualifies
Admitted first-year and transfer students who apply for financial aid at the same time they apply for admission. Admissions is strictly need-aware for international applicants — the more aid you request, the more competitive your application must be. Aid is a one-shot decision: international students who do not request aid when they apply cannot apply for it in later years.
Key deadlines
How to apply
- 1Apply through the Common Application or Coalition Application ($85 fee — a standard financial-hardship waiver is available inside the application) and complete the Cornell supplemental essay.
- 2Request financial aid on this application — you must apply for aid concurrently with admission, because internationals who skip it now cannot apply in later years.
- 3Submit official high school transcripts with certified English translations, a School Report and counselor recommendation, and two recommendations from academic teachers.
- 4Submit official SAT or ACT scores — required of all first-year applicants.
- 5Submit English proficiency scores if applicable (TOEFL iBT 100, IELTS Academic 7.5, or Duolingo 130), unless you qualify for a waiver.
- 6Complete the CSS Profile (school code 2098) and submit your parents' income documents via IDOC. Cornell gives no CSS fee waivers and no free alternative — if you live where the College Board can't process online payments, email intl-finaid@cornell.edu for a manual workaround.
Good to know
- Cornell is strictly need-aware for international freshmen — requesting a large aid package heightens the competition in an already single-digit admit pool. And aid is one-shot: you must apply for it the same year you apply for admission, or you lose the chance entirely, so never skip the aid application to look stronger.
- Unusual for this directory: Cornell has reinstituted testing, so every first-year applicant must submit an SAT or ACT score. Transfer applicants are the exception — SAT/ACT is not required or expected for transfers.
- English proficiency is required for non-native speakers (TOEFL iBT 100, IELTS Academic 7.5, or Duolingo 130) but automatically waived if you score 670+ on SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing, 30+ on ACT English, or attended an English-medium high school for 4+ consecutive years.
- Budget for the CSS Profile fee — Cornell issues no waiver codes to internationals and accepts no free ISFAA or paper form. The one exception is students who live where the College Board can't process online payments, who can email intl-finaid@cornell.edu to arrange a manual workaround.
- Transfer applicants need the Common App for Transfer plus Cornell's transfer essays, all post-secondary transcripts, final high school transcripts, a College Report from a registrar or dean, a Mid-Term Report of in-progress grades, one academic recommendation from a university professor, English proficiency scores, and the CSS Profile with parental income tax verification via IDOC.
Frequently asked questions
Does Cornell University give full scholarships to international students?
Yes, through need-based aid — there are no merit or athletic scholarships at Cornell. Cornell meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted undergraduates, and low-income international students can receive a full ride made up of Cornell grants, a work-study allocation, and emergency funding. You must be admitted and have applied for financial aid to receive it.
Is Cornell need-blind for international students?
No — Cornell is strictly need-aware for international applicants. The admissions committee sees how much financial aid you're requesting, and asking for a large package makes an already highly competitive process even harder. Once you're admitted, however, Cornell meets 100% of your demonstrated need.
Do I have to apply for financial aid when I apply to Cornell?
Yes — and this is critical. International students must apply for financial aid at the same time they apply for admission. If you don't request aid on your initial application, you cannot apply for it in any later year. It's a one-shot decision, so never skip the aid application hoping to strengthen your admission chances.
Does Cornell require the SAT for international students?
Yes, for first-year applicants. Cornell has reinstituted standardized testing, so every first-year applicant must submit an SAT or ACT score — unusual among the generous schools international students target. Transfer applicants are the exception: SAT/ACT is not required or expected for transfers.
Does Cornell require an English proficiency exam for international students?
Yes, for non-native English speakers. Cornell requires a TOEFL iBT of at least 100, an IELTS Academic of at least 7.5, or a Duolingo English Test of at least 130. The requirement is automatically waived if you score 670+ on the SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing section, 30+ on ACT English, or attended an English-medium high school for four or more consecutive years.
Is there a CSS Profile fee waiver for international students at Cornell?
No. Cornell does not issue CSS Profile fee waiver codes to international students and does not accept a free ISFAA or paper alternative. The only exception is if you live somewhere the College Board can't process online payments — in that case, email intl-finaid@cornell.edu to arrange a manual workaround. Submit the CSS Profile with school code 2098 and your documents via IDOC.
What is Cornell's acceptance rate?
Around 7.0–7.5% for freshman applicants, and lower for international students requesting near-full financial aid because admissions is need-aware. Transfer admission is less competitive at roughly 12–14%.
Does Cornell accept international transfer students with full funding?
Yes — Cornell meets 100% of demonstrated need for admitted international transfer students. But like freshmen, transfer admissions is heavily need-aware and transfer funding is highly restricted, so applying as a transfer with a full-aid request is very competitive. Transfers don't need SAT or ACT scores. You'll need the Common App for Transfer with Cornell's transfer essays, all post-secondary transcripts, final high school transcripts, a College Report, a Mid-Term Report, one academic recommendation from a university professor, English scores, and the CSS Profile with parental income tax verification via IDOC.
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